Clock housing and decorative means therefor

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a clock kit comprising a clock housing, decorative means adapted to project from the housing, a clock motor support means, a motor housing, hour indicators, hour and minute hands and a felt covering, and optionally a soft pad having the shape of the clock. The clock housing blank comprising a base, a plurality of circumferential tabs extending from the base, the tabs when taken together substantially extending about the circumference of the base, said tabs being folded out of the plane of said base to be perpendicular to said base with the extension of one tab being positioned against the adjacent tab and adhesively held in such position. The tabs are of such design and structure as to permit decorative means to be attached thereto and to project outward thereof.

United States Patent I Casella June 17, 1975 CLOCK HOUSING ANDDECORATIVE Prima y ExaminerLeonard Summer MEANS THEREFQR Attorne Agent,or Firm-Alexander D. Ricci [76] Inventor: Frank P. Casella, 2404 1 vFreemansburg Ave., Easton, Pa. [57] ABSTRACT 18042 The inventionprovides a clock kit comprising a clock [22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1974housing, decorative means adapted to project from the I housin a clockmotor su ort means, a motor hous- [21] Appl' 442324 1 ing, ho urindicators, hour :iid minute hands and a felt covering, and optionally asoft pad having the shape of [52] US. Cl. 206/223; 58/53; 206/301 theclock. The clock housing blank comprising a base, [51] Int. Cl. B65d79/00; G04b 37/00 a plurality of circumferential tabs extending from the[58] Field of Search 206/223, 301; 58/53 base, the tabs when takentogether substantially ex-- tending about the circumference of the base,said tabs [56] References Cited being folded out of the plane of saidbase to be per- UNITED STATES PATENTS pendicularto said base with theextension of one tab 1 773 152 8/1930 Ostler 58/53 UX being Positionedagainst the adjacent tab and adhe" 2Is47l7s0 8/1958 Ellerman 58/53 uxSively held in Such Position The tabs are of u 3120176 11/1965 Morgan Ct31 5 5 sign and structure as to permit decorative means to be 3,284,27211/1966 Swislow v 58/53 attached thereto and to project outward thereof.3,380,834 4/1968 Janovchik et a] 206/525 X 4 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresPATENTEDJUN17 1915 13889806 SHEET 2 CLOCK HOUSING AND DECORATIVE MEANSTHEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a clockkit, and in particular to a novel device that can be used to construct aclock of a most attractive nature in a variety of designs. The device isconstructed in such a manner as to requirerelatively simplemanipulations to thereby provide the foundation or base for a decorativeclock or for that matter a frame. Because of the relative ease ofproducing the novel device, the device can be designed so as to providea base structure which permits the clocks to be produced possessingrespectively many different designs. Clocks for the most part are notspecifically designed but rather fall into rather conventional designs.In some instances these rather conventional forms and designs may notsuit people with desires to have special interior effects or a moredecorative aspect to a necessary and practical appliance.

With this aspect in mind, it was the present inventors objective todesign and provide a means which would be of such versatility as topermit the individual to choose a decorative clock design to satisfy hispersonal tastes and to in turn produce such. The object was to provide ameans or kit which would not only allow the individual to chose aparticular shape for his ultimate clock but also the color coordinationtherefor, and hour designator and hour and minute hand designs anddecorative extension if desired.

The vast flexibility of the invention is provided through the use of ahighly versatile and novel clock housing which can be produced atrelatively low cost. This feature accordingly permits the individual toproduce and have a clock of a decorative nature at a correspondingly lowcost.

The foregoing as well as other objectives of the invention are achievedby providing a clock kit comprising a clock housing, decorative meansadopted to project from the housing, a clock motor support means, amotor housing, hour indicators, hour and minute hands and a feltcovering, and optionally a soft pad having the shape of the clock.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Attention is now directed to the figures of thedrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an assembly kit, with the cover open, showingthe various pieces for assembling a clock having a pentagonal design asin FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a completely assembled clockmade in accordance with the invention and of pentagonal design;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view,taken on line 33 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view representing one manner ofjoining a corner of the clock housing, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the clock of FIG. 2together with the sectional additions which are necessary to produce theclock havinga round face;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are lay-out pattern forms which may be used toconstruct a clock housing;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing amodification of a corner assembly using pressure sensitive tape.

LII

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawingswherein like numbers refer to like parts there is shown at 10 in FIG. 1a clock kit embodying the present invention. The clock kit 10 comprisingin a package 12, a clock housing blank 14, decorative objects 16, clockmotor support 18, padding 20 which is shaped similarly to clock housing14 (without tabs), clock motor 22 having battery space 22(a), hour handindicator 24, minute hand indicator 26, hour members 28, glue 30 andfelt 32.

As shown in FIG. 2, the completed clock has on its front face the felt32, hour members 28, hour hand 24 and minute hand 26. Of coursedecorative members 16 are shown in the engaged or attached form.

Clock housing blank 14 forms an important part of the invention since itis it which provides the ease of assembly and the ability to provide thesupport structure of low cost. In FIG. 6 the clock housing blank 34 isdepicted in hexagonal shape. Housing blank 34 comprises base 36 and tabs38 which can be folded perpendicularly to base 36 on fold lines 140.Each tab may be folded such that in the preferred form extensions 42(with an adhesive coating) will serve to hold the tabs permanently in anupstanding position as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 9. FIG. 4 depicts thearrangement when the individual tabs possess the appropriate extensions.FIG. 9 on the other hand shows the tabs connected where no extensionsare provided on the tabs. In this case a pressure sensitive tape is usedfor the purpose.

Once the clock housing has been erected, the clock face is completed byapplying padding 20 (e.g. foam rubber) to base 36 using a suitableadhesive. Felt covering 32 is fitted and adhered to the exterior side ofthe clock housing. Decorative members 16 which also may be fitted andcovered with felt covering 32 are then connected to erected tabs 38,preferably utilizing an engaging means, such as bolts, which engagethrough openings 46 and firmly hold such in place. Hour means 28 arethen attached through openings 40 in padding 20 and openings 44 in base36 and made stationary by any suitable means.

Motor support 18 then is inserted and attached (adhesive is desired)within clock housing 14 as shown in FIG. 5. Motor 22 is then inserted insupport 20 such that the motor shaft 48 projects forwardly throughopening 50 of padding 20, opening 52 of clock housing 14 and throughfelt 32. The minute 26 and hour 24 hands are then attached to motorshaft 48.

Because of the relatively straightforward design of the clock housing asillustrated by 14, 34, 54 and 64 of FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8 respectively,the clock housings can be produced by stamping or punching operations.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the tabs for the respective designs for the clockhousing element depicted are numbered 138 and 238.

The base material may be any which is somewhat rigid since it mustsupport various items such as the clock mechanism and various decorativeappendages. Suitable materials range from cardboard, thin pressboard,semirigid plastic sheet material and if so desired, thin metal. Witheach material, provisions must be made so as to insure that the tabs canbe folded so as to remain somewhat stationary until the appropriatesecuring means is used.

Before pointing out the final aspects of the invention it should perhapsbe explained that although specific designs for items 16 and 28 havebeen illustrated, these pendages may be nothing more than small roundball attachments to provide perhaps a smaller decorative clock for areaswhere such might be more attractive or for areas which dictate the useof a smaller more compact arrangement.

Similarly hour indicators 28 may take on any reasonable form, e.g. rounddots, numerals, etc. which may be connected by simply anchoring such inpadding or with the use of adhesives. Many decorative items of thisnature are available which are attached to the head of a pointed smallcylindrical structure. A fitted cap is the other. engaged to the pointedend of the structure thereby stabilizing such after the pointed end ispassed through the material.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 8 which illustrates a design which notonly provides for a decorative clock but also provides various windowsin which pictures,

etc. may be introduced. The result then is a clockpicture composite.

Along these same lines it is of course possible to utilize the basicclock housing with modification to produce a simple but attractiveframe. For example if the clock-face positions were cut out of thehousing as depicted by FIG. 8, and such were erected and decorated aswith the clock housing, the result would be a very attractive frame fora picture. This aspect is considered to be part of the invention conceptalthough not distinctly illustrated in the drawings.

As earlier disclosed the simplicity of stamping or punching the basicstructure of the clock kit, i.e. clock housing 14 provides an economicattractiveness to the invention. However even with this simplisticmethod providing a clock housing such as illustrated by 14 which isround is not easily done. As can be appreciated the folding of the tabsalways results in a somewhat angled, non-round shape. Therefore in orderto produce a decorative clock having a round shape certain additionalparts are necessary and these are depicted in the rear view presented inFIG. 5.

To produce a round shaped clock, one of the clock housings such asillustrated by 14 or 34 is utilized. After the clock housing is erectedfiller pieces 100 are attached to the sides of the housing asillustrated in FIG. 5. As apparent these circular pieces produce theround shape desired. Another modification is necessary if decorativepieces such as those depicted as 16 are to be utilized. In this case thestar points at the widest end must be curved so as to fit properlyagainst Curved filler pieces 100. The filler pieces preferably shouldhave openings located such as to permit entry and connection of thedecorative pieces to and through openings 46 of tabs 38. Afterattachment of pieces 100, the clock housing is decorated and assembledas earlier described.

As apparent the above described modification can also be used to producea round decorative frame for picture, etc. utilizing, the techniquedescribed earlier.

As can be appreciated if the clock housing is-produced using a punchingor stamping operation, the openings as depicted in the drawings can beproduced in the base as knock-outs i.e. perforations could be madeoutlining the openings and these could be pushed out in accordance witha personal decorative desire. This of course would provide greatflexibility in design in that for example only certain hour designationscould be utilized, likewise with the openingsin the tabs,

since it may be desirable to have only a few decorative appendages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 1. A clock kitcomprising a container having enclosed therein, a clock housing blank, aplurality of decorative elementsadapted to project fromthe hous ing,means for attaching said decorative means to said housing, a clock motorsupport means, a motor housing, hour and minute hands, a shaft extendingfrom said motor. housing for connecting said hour and minute hands tosaid motor housing, hour indicators, and means for connecting said hourindicators to said-clock housing, said clock housing blank comprising abase having anopening medially located to provide access for said shaft,a plurality of circumferential tabs extending from the base, the tabswhen taken together substantially extending about the circumference ofthe base, which tabs when folded out of the plane of said base to beperpendicular thereto provide a housing adapted to engage and hold saiddecorative means and said motor support.

2. A clock kit according to claim 1 wherein the respective tabs of saidclock housing are each provided with a lateral extension so as toprovide a connection between the respective tabs.

3. A clock kit according to claim 1 wherein said means for attachingsaid decorative elements comprising a plurality of positional openingsin said tabs and a projection on each of said elements adapted forinterlocking engagement with one of said openings.

4. A clock kit according to claim 3 wherein the base of the clockhousing blank has openings circumferentially positioned to engage andhold said hour indicators, and said hour indicators provided with means.for engagement in said openings.

1. A clock kit comprising a container having enclosed therein, a clockhousing blank, a plurality of decorative elements adapted to projectfrom the housing, means for attaching said decorative means to saidhousing, a clock motor support means, a motor housing, hour and minutehands, a shaft extending from said Motor housing for connecting saidhour and minute hands to said motor housing, hour indicators, and meansfor connecting said hour indicators to said clock housing, said clockhousing blank comprising a base having an opening medially located toprovide access for said shaft, a plurality of circumferential tabsextending from the base, the tabs when taken together substantiallyextending about the circumference of the base, which tabs when foldedout of the plane of said base to be perpendicular thereto provide ahousing adapted to engage and hold said decorative means and said motorsupport.
 2. A clock kit according to claim 1 wherein the respective tabsof said clock housing are each provided with a lateral extension so asto provide a connection between the respective tabs.
 3. A clock kitaccording to claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said decorativeelements comprising a plurality of positional openings in said tabs anda projection on each of said elements adapted for interlockingengagement with one of said openings.
 4. A clock kit according to claim3 wherein the base of the clock housing blank has openingscircumferentially positioned to engage and hold said hour indicators,and said hour indicators provided with means for engagement in saidopenings.